CONNECTICUT | October 11, 2000 -- Feeling wealthy? You should.
The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday identified Connecticut as the richest state in the nation, with more than $39,000 in income per person.
However, along with that distinction comes a hefty state tax bill, also the highest in the nation, at $2,932 per capita. That's up 2 percent from 1998, or $63 more.
The state's heavy tax burden came as a bit of surprise to Michelle DiPierro, 33, of Monroe.
"I thought New York would be the highest," said the stay-at-home mother as she accompanied her two children into the Hawley Lane Mall in Trumbull.
Still, she wouldn't mind paying lower taxes. "Wouldn't everyone?" DiPierro asked. "Unfortunately, I think we're stuck with it."
The national state-tax average was $1,835 per capita, according to the census report. The lightest was in New Hampshire, with $891 in state taxes.
Overall, taxes rose despite numerous tax cuts that have passed the Legislature in recent years. The state cut the income tax, businesses taxes and the gas tax. State inheritance tax and numerous other small taxes are being phased out or have disappeared from the books. Gov. John G. Rowland's office claims the administration has cut taxes $2 billion since he took office in 1995.
But people like Norma McPadden, 61, of Monroe, who assists her husband at the Merritt Canteen in Bridgeport; Max and Lidia Cruz of Bridgeport and Susan Smith, a 29-year-old nursing student from Bridgeport, all believe there is government fat that could be cut to reduce taxes.
"I'd like to see government bureaucracy cut," McPadden said Tuesday. "I think money can be saved there."
"Cuts can be made in programs," Cruz said.
Frank Dempsey, 60, of Trumbull, who owns Arrow Pest Control, and Smith both believe the General Assembly should work to reduce property taxes and look at additional gas tax cuts.
"We pay so much in these taxes," Smith said. "They shouldn't be so high."
"Taxes are going down, but when the economy's good, more people are working and people are making more money," said Ellen Schneider, spokeswoman for the state tax collector's office. "Even though you have lower tax rates, you're going to end up paying a lot of money."
Motorists putting gasoline in their cars in New Haven on Tuesday agreed about paying lots of taxes.
While the gas tax has been cut 7 cents this year to 25 cents a gallon, high oil prices are driving up the cost of gasoline, obscuring the savings.
Gray Barrett of New Haven cleaned the windows of his brown sedan while pumping $5 worth of gas into the tank.
"I can't afford to fill it up," Barrett said. "Taxes are ridiculous. Most people aren't rich, aren't well-to-do."
At a nearby pump, Sal Frumento, a New Haven artist, was resigned to paying taxes.
"We take a beating, but what are you going to do about it?" Frumento said. "If I had to think about it too much, I'd commit suicide."
For the record, the Census Bureau estimates each man, woman and child in Connecticut paid an average of $165.95 in motor fuels taxes last year.
Other per-capita tax bills: $1,099.81 on income; $51.10 for utilities; $39.77 for tobacco; and $980 in general sales and gross receipts taxes.
The average state tax burden also runs to $144.58 in business taxes; $76.22 in death and gift taxes; and $110.03 in various license taxes.
And, the census figures show, Connecticut residents can't even escape the tax burden in their leisure hours: The average resident pays $13.45 yearly in taxes on alcoholic beverages and $88.67 for amusements.
Staff writer Michael P. Mayko and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
